EAST ORANGE

EAST ORANGE HONORS ALTHEA GIBSON

By Dhiren Shah

On August 23, 2019 East Orange Mayor Ted Green and the City Council hosted a dedication ceremony at Soverel Park to dedicate a statue honoring Althea Gibson, in collaboration with the Althea Gibson Foundation.

Mayor Green said that Althea Gibson was not born here, but she lived in East Orange and even served as East Orange’s Director of Recreation.

Right now, when we talk about women’s tennis, we think about the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus. But in 1958, as an amateur player, Gibson won 56 national and international titles in singles and doubles combined.

There was no prize money for athletes in those days. When she won the Pepsi Cola world pro championship in singles and doubles in Cleveland, she received $500 as prize money. Today, players receive millions of dollars in tournaments.

Honoring Althea Gibson had two purposes. One, as an East Orange resident and Director of Recreation, she must be honored so the children will know their heritage. Secondly, it helped to raise money for East Orange Youth Tennis.

Gibson was gifted and talented. She had an aspiration for singing and as an amateur, she was runner up in a contest at the Apollo Theater in 1943.

Remarks were made by Mayor Green as well as Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, representatives from Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., East Orange City Council Chairman Chris James, and First Ward Councilwoman Amy Lewis, United States Tennis Association Director of Diversity and inclusion David Williams, and East Orange Board of Education Athletics Director Michael Baldwin.

On August 25, there was a fundraising ceremony at the Orange Lawn Tennis club. The fundraising was for a three-week program to teach tennis to East Orange’s youth.

On August 26, on opening day of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, people gathered at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the unveiling of a sculpture of Althea Gibson. She will be remembered by tennis fans for all time, as she earned her historical spot in the tennis world. It’s an honor for a black woman athlete who shined in a white dominated game.

One thing we all should learn from Althea Gibson is that nothing is impossible. When you are determined and have dedication and confidence, one can achieve anything.

EAST ORANGE PARKING PHASE ONE, TEST ONE UNDERWAY

By Walter Elliott

EAST ORANGE - Those who park, live and/or shop along 14 of East Orange's streets may well know how the city's "Phase One, Test One" formula is working well before the City Council's Aug. 12 and 26 meetings.

Parts or full length of those 14 streets among all five city wards have come under a weekday "Emergency No Parking" 9 a.m.-noon since Aug. 1.

Warning notices have been replaced with parking ticket enforcement by East Orange police officers, said City Council official Melody Scott Aug. 7, since Aug. 6.

Jackson and Scott may then submit their parking pilot program at the council's Aug. 12 or 26 meetings. Their findings will guide city administrators and elders in implementing further tests and phases to alleviate long-standing parking problems in other East Orange neighborhoods.

"As your mayor, I heard you loud and clear regarding your parking concerns," said Green Aug. 1. "I promised you that, in my first year, my administration will work hard to produce a comprehensive parking plan to alleviate some of the significant challenges the currently exist."

Making parts or all of the targeted 14 streets as at least temporary no parking 9 a.m.-Noon zones has a three-fold purpose. The first is that street sweeping would be done at a time where daytime and night working residents will be away from the curbs.

The second purpose is to discourage motorists who take interstate buses and/or commuter rail into New York City from taking those curbside spots. Lastly, the changed street sweeping times may help those residents who work the overnight shift with parking choices.

The following streets, which happen to cover all five city wards are: Chestnut Street, Full Length; Munn Avenue, Full Length; *Washington Terrace, Full Length; William Street, Full Length; *14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19th Streets, Full Length; North Arlington Avenue, Freeway Drive to Springdale Avenue; Prospect Street, William Street to Bloomfield Border; Walnut Street, William Street to Hamilton Street; Washington Street William Street to Orange Border. (*Note: Alternate side-of-the-street parking rules still apply.)

Mayor Green is to also hold a listening tour regarding P1T1 in September.

RETIREMENTS AND SLATES SHAKE UP EAST ORANGE PRIMARY LINEUP

By Walter Elliott

EAST ORANGE - There will be at least two new faces on the City Council, in the wake of two long-standing members' retirements, when East Orange's elders hold their annual reorganization meeting Jan. 1, 2020.

The questions awaiting registered city voters' decisions for the June 4 party primary and Nov. 5 General elections, however, are: which new faces - and whether there will be up to four more.

Petitions are still being forwarded for voters’ signatures for candidates for five of East Orange's council ward seats, as it happens every two years here, while you read this until the 4 p.m. April 1 filing deadline.

There are three key differences in the city's 2019 council race edition - starting with Jacquelyn E. Johnson and Quilla E. Talmadge's names not being on East Orange Democratic Committee-circulated petitions.

The respective Second and Third ward councilwomen announced Feb. 18 that they will retire from their seats Jan. 1. They will not be joining incumbent colleagues Amy Lewis (First Ward), Casim Gomez (Fourth Ward) and Mustafa Al-M. Brent (Fifth Ward)'s pursuing re-election.

"I've been doing this for 30 years," Talmadge told "Local Talk" after the council's March 11 committee and regular meetings. "It's time for someone new to come up. I've applied for being a consultant to the council."

Talmadge had been Third Ward Councilwoman for 24 of the last 30 years, starting with her first term in 1990-93. City voters returned her in 1999, 2003, '07, '11 and '15.

The current Council Finance Committee Chairwoman had long headed its Law and Legislation Committee. She holds the record for the longest-serving council president before being succeeded by Fifth Ward Councilwoman Alicia Holman in 2014.

Johnson is leaving after serving five consecutive terms. She was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in '03, '07, '11 and '15. The Council's current Law and Legislation Chairwoman has also been its liaison to the East Orange Water Commission.

Johnson and Second Ward junior colleague Christopher Awe were away on separate business conferences and were absent from Monday night's meetings.

The Second Ward's senior representative, in a published Feb. 18 report said, "I was Jackie Johnson long before I got the councilwoman's title. I told the chairman (Leroy Jones, Jr.) I'll mentor them as much as I can; Chris Awe and (First Ward Councilman/Council President) Chris James."

Johnson, in the same report, said she was supporting Brittany D. Claybrooks. Claybrooks is Mayor Ted Green's planning project manager and leader of Second Ward Democratic District 2-12.

Talmadge, without missing a beat Tuesday night, said she was endorsing Vernon Pullins, Jr. The East Orange High School Class of 1990 graduate and 2013 primary candidate for the 34th State Legislative District for State Senator was appointed to the East Orange School District Board of Education in 2018.

The above said five candidates are also running with the blessing of Jones - who doubles as chairman of the city and Essex County's Democratic committees.

The ECDC-backed slate also includes relative council newcomer Tameika Garrett-Ward in the Fourth Ward for the outgoing Tyshammie Cooper's remaining unexpired term.

Cooper would have been in line to run with her other four colleagues and, supposedly, Mayor Green for re-election in 2021. That was before ECDC members appointed Cooper to succeed now-34th State District Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange), on Jones' recommendation. as a county freeholder Dec. 17.

Jones, also on Dec. 17, appointed Garrett-Ward as Fourth Ward councilwoman State law requires that a special election be held to fill out an unexpired elective term of more than a year.

There are, as of press time, at least two council ward seat challengers running in league with a newly-formed political group.

Khalfani Alleyne is contending with Claybrooks over Johnson's Second Ward seat. The city's chief housing inspector had run against then-incumbent Romal Bullock for that ward's other seat in the 2017 primary. (Awe succeeded Bullock when Green hired the latter as the city's tax assessor last summer.)

Royster G. Allman, who last ran for a Fifth Ward seat in 2013, is running against Brent in that same ward. Allman may be better known as hosting "Change Makers" local radio program.

Both Alleyne and Allman, going by their Facebook postings, have support from the East Orange Progressive Democrats. Former Councilwoman and County Clerk Carol Clark and former Councilman and city code enforcement director Dwight Saunders formed the EOPD last month to challenge Jones' ECDC candidates.

Clark and Saunders also created the Essex County Progressive Democrats and have been gathering petition signatures to run for respective county register of deeds and mortgages and as at-large freeholder. Incumbents Dana Rone (D-Newark) and former Irvington Board of Education President Romaine Graham are also running for respective re-election and election. (The ECDC appointed Graham to succeed the late Lebby C. Jones Feb. 20.)

The June 4 primary may be the more contentious of the two scheduled elections here this year. East Orange, according to Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin's statistics, is where Democrats hold an eight-to-one ratio against Republicans on registered voters' rolls.

All current and prospective city and county level primary candidates have to file their signed petitions to either City Clerk Cynthia Brown or Durkin's offices no later than 4 p.m. April 1.

EAST ORANGE MAYOR GREEN DELIVERS FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

By Dhiren Shah

On February 21, 2019, East Orange Mayor Ted Green delivered his first state of the city address in a full house auditorium at Cicely Tyson High School. Green had a lot to talk about. His achievements in a short period of time are remarkable, and are what the people are talking about.

First and foremost, his motto is “One City, One Community, One Goal.” He has given priority to having a clean city. Green himself goes with his staff to clean abandoned lots, streets and houses. For those who has not kept their properties in the right condition, some get a warning, while others have been issued 43 tickets and 105 summoned for violations out of 179 properties inspected.

Another great achievement he mentioned in his speech is the reduction of crime. He said that the reduction in overall crime from 2003 to 2018 is 83%, and from 2017 it’s 19%. The violent crime he said was reduced by 30% from 2017, shootings are down by 45% and burglaries are down 38% from 2017. Green repeated each and every time, it’s fact.

East Orange is only 3.9 square mile in radius with a population of about 65,000. Since the collapse of the real estate market in 2006, for the first time the prices of homes went up, which shows the confidence people have in the city. However, the real estate property tax is very high, and parking is another issue for residents at night. With that, Green stated that the parking and the real estate taxes are the next projects for his administration to address.

There are some new buildings in town, which shows the interest developers have in the city. The Blackstone real estate developer has already built four high rise buildings on South Center Street and now a fifth one is in the pipeline.

The biggest announcement came when Green said that $1 billion was being invested in the pipeline, to which the audience gave a huge round of applause.

Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, East Orange Council Members, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, Essex County Democratic Party Chairman Leroy Jones and mayors from surrounding towns and cities, including Orange Mayor Dwyane Warren, Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese, and many more dignitaries were among the full house residents of East Orange were in attendance.

EAST ORANGE: 90% OF THE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE DURING THE DAY

By Dhiren Shah

In our coverage area, Local Talk serves four cities that are constantly compared to each other when it comes to crime. When Local Talk started in 2000, East Orange was the worst city among itself, Newark, Orange and Irvington. After 18 years, East Orange is now the safest among those cities.

East Orange Mayor Ted Green had a press conference on Feb. 5 to announcing the city’s latest crime statistics. According to Mayor Green and Police Chief Phyllis Bindi, in a survey, 90% of people feel safe walking the streets during the daytime and 75% feel safe at night. Once people cannot walk easily on Main Street, but now East Orange has become a safer city.

There was a significant crime reduction from 2017 to 2018, which is 19%. Also, there is another stat that shows the difference from 2003 to 2018, what a difference. That is why all the law enforcement from all over the country are looking at East Orange’s tactics, and how they have reduced crime dramatically.

Bindi said, “It would have seemed unbelievable in 2003 when there were 7,249 crimes and 24 murders committed in East Orange, that we would be standing here in 2018 reporting an 83% reduction in overall crime, including a 75% drop in violent crime.”

Bindi added, “Preliminary crime reports show there were 1,237 overall crimes committed in EO, down from 1,532 the previous year. Overall violent crime dropped by 30%, Homicides fell by 33%, the number of shooting victims declined by 45%, and non-violent crime fell by 15%.”

2018

EAST ORANGE INSTALLS NEW SAFETY DIRECTOR

By Dhiren Shah

East Orange Mayor Ted Green has announced that Domingos Saldida will be the new Acting Public Safety Director. The Public Safety Director oversees the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Services.

A full house press conference at East Orange Police Headquarters brought together many local dignitaries, including Acting County Prosecutor Ted Stephens II, County Sheriff Armando Fountura, Essex County Democratic Party Chairman Leroy Jones, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose and police chiefs and police directors from adjoining townships.

Jose Cordero serves as a public safety liaison for the city of East Orange. Under his tenure as police director from 2007 to 2011, East Orange reduced crime so drastically that national law enforcement departments were sending representatives to understand and follow in the footsteps of Cordero.

Since then, East Orange has contained and/or reduce crime. While there are some incidents here and there, the East Orange Police department with full force solves most of the cases quickly. Today, East Orange residents feel safer during the day when they walk on the streets, and even at night, depending on the individuals.

Saldida recently worked as Public Safety Director for the Town of Dover, NJ before retiring in 2016. Before that, he served 26 years in the Newark Police Department. He served as Deputy Chief in 2015 in the NPD. He has a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Technology from NJIT and holds numerous certifications, including from Harvard University, Boston College, Rutgers University and Northwestern University.

Newly appointed acting Public Safety Director Saldida said, “Mayor, I thank you deep down in my heart. This mayor is energetic, he has a vision and he has passion. Ladies and gentlemen, the reason that I chose to accept this position the mayor offered is because he made me excited…He (mayor) wants to make people happy, his vision is my vision.”

Best of luck to Saldida, Mayor Green and the residents of East Orange from Local Talk’s staff.

LUMINARIES INDUCTED INTO EAST ORANGE HALL OF FAME

By Walter Elliott

EAST ORANGE - The East Orange Hall of Fame Committee more than doubled their roster of inductees here at the Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing & Fine Arts Nov. 24.

The committee attracted an audience that nearly filled the Tyson High School's 800-seat auditorium for the second straight year.

Some of that audience were related to or representatives of the 38 inductees - including most of the so-honored individuals who are still living.

Most stayed throughout the nearly 90-minute ceremony to watch the 38 stars shine. Those 38 were selected by the committee for their outstanding service and/or achievement while being a city native or a resident during their formative or professional time.

Gibson, who made East Orange her home since mid-career, was breaking tennis' color barriers almost concurrently with Jackie Robinson's breaking Major League Baseball's "Gentlemen's Agreement."

The top women's player of 1957 had to circumvent "whites only" tennis clubs to make national ranking and often changed uniforms in her car for the lack of facilities. She once remarked that receiving her first Wimbledon trophy from Queen Elizabeth II was in contrast to being told "to sit in the back of the bus in North Carolina."

Gibson blazed a trail for the likes of Evonne Goolagong, the late Arthur Ashe, the Williams sisters and 2018 US Open women's singles winner Naomi Osaka. The former East Orange Recreation Director and Essex County Parks Commission Women's Sports Director took up professional golf to make ends meet.

Then there are inductees, like 1930 Oscar nominee for best actress Ann Harding, where most people had to read the night's program or pay attention to the ceremony's video clip.

Harding, who was born into an Army soldier's family in 1902 in San Antonio, was brought to East Orange by 1915. Why her family - the Gatleys - settled here is not immediately known.

Dorothy Walton Gatley began using "Ann Harding" as her stage name in local plays while attending East Orange High School. She used the name to keep her acting away from her disapproving Army father.

Harding went on to act in 72 Broadway and off-Broadway plays, 40 silent and "talking" motion pictures, 28 radio programs and 44 television shows 1920-65. She has two stars - one each for movies and TV - on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She died in Sherman Oaks, Calif. in 1981.

The better- and lesser- known inductees are part of the EOHoF's function. The hall and its newly-annual ceremony serve to educate who from East Orange has accomplished as much as to celebrate.

Both committee chairman Theodore N. Stephens II and producer Darryl Jeffries explained to "Local Talk" that the hall intends to educate people of the rich contribution East Orange's natives or residents have made within the city and far beyond it.

Exposing youth to the city's legacy was evident in Saturday night's program, from the presenting of colors by the East Orange Campus High School Air Force JROTC to a medley of the late Gwen Guthrie's hit songs by some of the Tyson-derived choir.

"We're running a more polished program this year," Jeffries said when asked of any other differences from last year's inaugural ceremony. "Last year, we were running more by the seat of our pants."

Covering the EOHoF Class of 2018's 38 inductees has the same attraction and challenge as covering the 33 starting drivers of the Indianapolis 500 or an EOCHS graduating class. Each individual has a story to tell - but time and space considerations pares that story-telling to several paragraphs at best.

"Local Talk" and WZYE 95.9 FM created their own "media row" in a Tyson School hallway next to the basketball court where the inductees (or their representatives) and VIPs were waiting. The two-entities, like on the Oscars' red carpet or at the Super Bowl's Media Day, took turns ushering or capturing as many of them for quotes.

"Local Talk," for example, learned from former RWJ St. Barnabas executive Louis LaSalle that he and his families settled along a block of Norwood Street. LaSalle explained that other relatives began flocking to that Third Ward block once the first settled from Italy.

Raquell Vassell, the indoor track record holder for EOCHS and Hampton University, was wearing purple lipstick and a purple Afro - none of which are part of either school's colors.

"Oh, I wanted to be different," said Vassell.

Former Mayor Robert L. Bowser said he felt proud to represent his late father when the EOHoF Awards were to be bestowed on stage.

Edward T. Bowser, Sr., who was born here in 1901, first used his architectural drafting certificate from now-NJIT to draw plans for houses, businesses and churches in and around the city. Mayor James W. Kelley named the former city planning board member to become Chief Building Inspector - and the first African American city department head - in 1967.

The one-term Third Ward Councilman and two-term New Jersey State General Assemblyman and father of four distinguished sons has an East Orange School District and a senior housing building each named after him.

Bowser would not be the last person to receive a departed relative's EOHoF award. There was a relative of Virginia M. Fletcher (1929-2002) on stage.

Born here as Virginia Carson, Fletcher used her Rutgers sociology and NYU public administration degrees to manage three of the East Orange Housing Authority's low income developments 1963-75. Her service on several boards garnered recognition by the NAACP, among others.

Fletcher, before retirement, was retail space manager for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She was big on leasing space at Newark Liberty International Airport and two bus terminals to minority businesses.

Lawrence C. "Larry" Schumacher, Sr.'s widow received his award. "Local Talk" remembered him as the city's recreation director who had a distinguished football playing career with Notre Dame - but there was a lot more to "The Shoe."

Schumacher, whose family moved here in 1948. parlayed his athletic and coaching career to become EOCHS's first head football coach. His playing and coaching career included Newark's Essex Catholic Boys' High School, Clifford J. Scott, Newark Central and Summit highs plus Medgar Evers College.

The Paul Robeson Football Classic co-founder also has a county-wide scholarship for student-athletes in his name.

Leroy Jones, Jr received two EOHoF awards; one for his father, Leroy, Sr., and John L. Costley, Sr. Awards for Harding and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and Wellesley College President Margaret Clapp, however, were not presented because no representative was found to receive them.

There were at least two of the non-posthumous Class of 2018 awardees who sent their regrets in not making it back here Saturday night.

Sheila Y. Oliver, for example, can be excused because the former East Orange Board of Education member is working two jobs since Jan. 6.

A majority of New Jersey voters elected Oliver as Lieutenant Governor as part of Phil Murphy's gubernatorial ticket in 2017. Murphy (D-Rumson) then appointed her as his Director of Community Affairs.

Oliver is the state's first African American lieutenant governor - which follows her similar trailblazing as the state's General Assembly Speaker. Newark's Weequahic High School alumna moved here in 1978, allowing her to eventually become an Essex County Freeholder and a 34th State Legislative District (East Orange/Orange/Montclair/Clifton) Assemblywoman.

Singer-songwriter Janice Ian sent a five-minute video thanking the committee for inducting her. The video recalled how the city she grew up in was like during the 1960s.

"I look back and realize how much East Orange has shaped me," reflected Ian. "The funny part is, that while I was in high school, the focus was on leaving here."

More honorees may be found at www.eohof.org or on the East Orange Hall of Fame Facebook page.

TEACHER KOFI OWENS REMEMBERED

By Walter Elliott

EAST ORANGE - The estimated 500 people who gathered here at the East Orange STEM Academy main entrance at North Clinton Street and Renshaw Avenue would not let a 20-minute thunderstorm cancel the late addition to the city's National Night Out events Aug. 7.

The intense storm cell, which cut short Maplewood's NNO at De Hart Park, passed in time for organizers to finish erecting tents, a sound system and Mayor Ted Green's podium for the Kofi A. Owens memorial candlelight vigil.

Owens, 45, of Newark, was declared dead from a gunshot wound in his car while parked along South 16th Street 1:18 a.m. Aug. 3. The popular 10-year STEM Academy teacher and another person were found between Central Avenue and Ninth Avenue which the East Orange-Newark border bisects. (The other person will not be identified for safety concerns.)

The Owens family, Mayor Green's office, the East Orange Police Departments NNO delegation the East Orange Board of Education and the city's DPW posted the candlelight vigil to the dozen or so already scheduled for the first Tuesday in August's late afternoon and evening early Aug. 6.

Mayor Green and East Orange Chief of Police Phyllis Bindi said that they had no alternative plan to the sunset vigil.

Word of Kofi Owens' death rippled through and beyond the city community.

"I'm extremely saddened to learn of the sudden death of Kofi Owens, a beloved and well-respected teacher and mentor in our East Orange School District," said Green in his Monday morning statement. "My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and all those who feel the loss throughout the community. This type of violence will not be tolerated in our city, and we're working aggressively with all law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice using every means necessary."

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura and the county CrimeStoppers have posted an up to $10,000 award for information that leads to an arrest.

Newark Anti-Violence Coalition media advocate Zayid Muhammad announced Monday that his group had set 6 p.m. Aug. 9 to hold its weekly rally at the Owens' shooting.

"In our culture," said Muhammad, "one of the greatest losses a community can endure is the loss of a great teacher."

"Kofi Owens was a dedicated employee who worked in the district for over 10 years," said East Orange School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin West. "He was well-respected by his colleagues and students. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

The profound loss of Owens was felt on at least two levels, the first of which was of his return-home-to-give-back story.

The Brooklyn-born Owens' family moved to East Orange when he was 12-years-old. He attended EOSD's Sojourner Truth Middle School before going to Essex County's North 13th Street Vocational-Technical High School in Newark.

Owens, who concentrated on advertising design at North 13th Tech, went on to graduate from Bloomfield College with an honors bachelors of arts degree in computer graphics.

Owens joined EOSD in 2006 and was most recently the STEM Academy's technology coordinator - which brought mourners to contemplate his openness to those he met.

"Kofi Owens volunteered every Thursday afternoon to an afterschool mentoring group," said West at the vigil. "He was mentoring up to 82 young men."

"He always treated us like kings and queens," said Anisaa Jean-Pierre, who will be a junior at the STEM magnet high school next month. He did right by us."

The third quality in measuring the loss of Owens came in the 500-person turnout at the former Clifford J. Scott High's northeast entrance. The gathering spilled outside its gates, prompting EOPD officers to close Renshaw between North Clinton Street and Glenwood Avenue. NJTransit's No. 34B buses to and from Bloomfield had to be detoured.

That turnout brought Gloria and Sharonda Owens - his mother and wife - to tears.

"Kofi came out of the gate sharing his gifts and talents," said Gloria Owens. "I told him one time that when I grow up I want to be like you. I've been proud to have him every day for all 45 years of my life."

"It's been a tough week," added Kwame. "I'm proud that he was with me for all my 34 years."

"It's good to know that so many of you loved him," said Sharonda, "as I did."

Kwame said that the event was more of a celebration of his brother’s life than a mourning - and a call to act on his legacy.

"Who among us will rise," asked Fourth Ward Councilman Casim Gomez. "Who among us will stand to carry the torch?"

First Ward Councilwoman Amy Lewis and Second Ward Councilwoman Jacquelyn Johnson were also seen among the crowd.

"When residents have a sense of unity," said Green, "we can turn back crime and these senseless shootings."

The vigil ended with a third candlelight lighting before 9 p.m. Bro. Thomas Ellis, of the Enough is Enough Coalition, had the crowd sing along to "This Little Light of Mine."

UPDATE: Owens' funeral is slated for 9 a.m. on Aug. 18 at Christ Church in Montclair. Also, several details from the original version of this article have been revised.

JOSE CORDERO TO SERVE AS LIAISON FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN EAST ORANGE

EAST ORANGE - On Thursday, July 19, East Orange Mayor Ted R. Green announced that Jose “Joe” Cordero will return to the city of East Orange as Liaison for Public Safety.

In this role, Cordero will assist the administration in evaluating and assessing all aspects of public safety including the fire department and emergency management, and report directly to Mayor Green. Cordero previously served as the city’s first police director from 2004 – 2007 and then again for a year in 2010.

“I am happy that Joe accepted my offer to again return to East Orange,” said Mayor Green. “I am very confident that Joe’s background, proven track record of success and commitment to the people of East Orange will help us to deliver the high quality of service that our residents expect, need and deserve.”

“I am excited to return to East Orange, especially at a time when the city continues to experience historic lows in all areas of crime,” said Cordero. “During my time as the city’s police director, we implemented new strategies using technology that produced record-breaking results. Most importantly, we regained the public’s trust. I look forward to working with Police Chief Phyllis Bindi and Fire Chief André Williams to ensure that East Orange is a safe city for everyone who lives, works and visits here.”

Under Cordero’s watch, East Orange saw unprecedented reductions in murders, rapes, robberies and other violent crimes. East Orange has continued that positive streak. To date, the city has seen an 18% drop in overall crime, 31% drop in violent crime and 40% drop in homicides since last year.

East Orange recently graduated 22 police officers with 19 more currently in the academy.

East Orange, NJ - On May 31, 2018, Mayor Ted R. Green presented 9-year-old Kori Scott with a proclamation for saving her best friend’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver near their school cafeteria. Mayor Green also proclaimed Kori Scott “Mayor for the Day” on Friday, June 1, 2018, in honor of National Heimlich Maneuver Day and in celebration of the city’s brave community hero.

“I am honored to stand here today and recognize Kori as one of East Orange’s own hometown heroes,” said Mayor Green. “Kori’s brave actions have already made an incredible impact on our city. Kori learned the Heimlich maneuver from her parents. Her smart instincts and quick actions are characteristics of a true hero, and it fills me with pride to have her here today as a representative of our city and community.”

Earlier this month, Kori’s best friend and classmate at Bowser Elementary School began choking on a piece of food. Remembering the technique that she learned from her parents, Kori quickly began to perform three to four thrusts to her classmate’s chest until the food expelled.

“I’m proud because of the quick thinking; she snapped right into it,” said Kiana Scott, Kori’s mother. “I am overjoyed. Words cannot express how happy and proud I am.”

Created by Dr. Henry J. Heimlich in 1974, the life-saving procedure is observed on the first of June each year. According to the American Red Cross, choking causes over 3,000 deaths per year. Proper training and knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver may help to save a person’s life.

A TOUR OF EAST ORANGE GENERAL HOSPITAL

By Dhiren Shah

On May 22, 2018, by invitation, I visited East Orange General Hospital. I was accompanied by Pastor Reverend Arnold Fox, Tonisha Nicholls, and Tanya Flood for a tour. Why did I agree to the tour? The main reason is the perception of the hospital. For decades, the hospital for decades was a non-profit hospital and the largest private hospital in the state of New Jersey.

As soon as I heard that they spent $13 million already, my ears were listening to something different. The perception was going down. Why? They took over a year ago. They started to improve the quality of service by updating the machinery and facility. The look of the hospital is different now than a year ago. The key is the medical service and customer relations.

We started with the emergency department. They have improved the facility with a better waiting area and new tactics to speed up treatment. The waiting time for the emergency room has been improved a lot, as per Tonisha Nichols.

Lea Rodriguez, the former Chief Nursing Officer at Clara Maass, has joined EOGH as the new Chief Nursing Officer. Within the past two months after joining EOGH, she said, “I am building a team with more experienced staff and educating nurses coming on board and making sure the technicians are educated and skilled as needed to make necessary changes for the best for our patients.”

She added, “We implement rounding. We are rounding much more on patients. Our waiting room is not staying filled. Patients are taken care of as quickly as possible, with expedited frequent rounding to make sure their needs are met.”

Rev. Fox said, “They also have staff that interact with the families of the patients. So families are kept abreast on why their loved ones are waiting longer then they should; so families are communicating as well.”

They have a GYN women’s health center on the 4th floor. They have a one stop center for women, including the best diagnostic equipment right on the same floor, so women do not have to go back and forth. The unit has been fitted with the best diagnostic technology : a 3D digital mammography that provides improved accuracy in the diagnosis of dense breast tissue, Standing Stereotactic Biopsy, a bone densitometry machine, and a new ultrasound machine.

They have emergency room managed by the same group that oversees the St. Barnabas System. Their radiology is managed by Rutgers radiology physicians. Also, their behavioral health department and family health department are well known according to Tanya Flood.

The hospital recognizes the importance of community outreach and has partnered with various organizations to promote health awareness and wellness in East Orange.

The improvements at East Orange General Hospital will work only if the residents of East Orange and the surrounding area take advantage of the facility. Prospect Medical has committed $30 million to renovate, update technology and expand services.